Sewing-machine.



No. 880,059. PATENTBD SEPT. 4, 1906. W. 0. FREE.

SEWING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 4, 190a.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM C. FREE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO ILLINOIS SEI/VING MACHINE COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPO- RATION OF ILLINOIS.

SEWING-MACHINE.

Patented Sept. 4, 1906.

Application filed May 4, 1905. Serial No. 268.803-

To all wit-077i, it nuty concern.-

Be it known that I, IVILLIAM C. FREE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sewing-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to that class of sewing-machines in which the arm of the shuttle-carrier derives its movement from a shaft which is located beneath the base-plate of the machine-head and from which also the feed derives its movement. In contradistinction to the main shaft, which latter is lo cated inthe arm of the machine-head, the

shaft first aforesaid is called the lower shaft. The means for transmitting motion from this lower shaft to the arm of the shuttle-carrier comprises a diagonal cam on the shaft, a so-calle gimbal-ring surrounding the shaft and operatively related to the cam and a bifurcated arm (or a pair of arms) proceeding downward from the slnittle-carrier arm, straddling the shaft and engaging the trunnions of the gimbal-ring. The proper operation of this mechanism demands that the axis of the lower shaft and the axis of the shuttle-carrier arm occupy a common plane, and it is preferable that said axes be exactly perpendicular to each other. It demands also that the axis of the trunnions of the gimbal-ring and the axis of the shaft oc cupy a common plane.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide means for accomplishing these adjustments, notwithstanding. slight inaccuracies in machining or milling the parts, although, as is well known, this work ordinarily is done with great care and frequently by machinery capable of doing it with such accuracy that even when errors do occur they are very slight.

The invention consists in the features of novelty that are hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are made a part hereof, and in which Figure I is a plan view of so much of a sewing-machine as is necessary in order to show the invention, portions of the base-plate being broken away and the shuttle-race slides or covers being omitted. Fig. 2 is a vertical section thereof on the line 2 2, Fig. I, looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 3 is a'section thereof 011 the line 3 3, Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of one of the arms through which movement is transmitted from the lower shaft to the shuttle-carrier arm. Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view showing the relations of the bearing for the shuttle-carrier arm and its support.

A represents the base-plate of a sewingmachine head; B, the lower shaft, which has already been defined; C, a diagonal cam secured to said shaft by means of a set-screw c; D, the so-callec gimbal-ring surrounding the shaft and adapted to receive movement from the diagonal cam C as the shaft revolves (l, the trunnions of said ring; E, the arms having bearings e for receiving the trunnions, and F one of the component parts of the arm by which the shuttle-carrier G is carried.

There is nothing new in the general construction and arrangement of the parts thus far described.

The objects of the invention have already been stated, and. the invention consists in the means hereinafter described for accomplishing these objects.

The base-plate A is provided with a circular opening a, which has a slight taper, and in this opening fits a correspondingly-shaped plug II, having on its under side a threaded projection 71-, which is eccentric with respect to the body of the plug, or, in other words, to that portion which occupies the opening a in the base-plate A. The lower end of the projection h is notched for receiving a screwdriver or other implement by which the plug 11 may be turned in the opening a. By reason of the eccentricity of the projection h it is apparent that by turning the plug II the location of the center or axis ofthe projec tion h may be shifted. Turned onto the projection h is a part I, which also is notched for the reception of a screw-driver or other implement, so that when the plug II is brought to the desired position the part I may be tightened, the plug meanwhile being held in position by the screw-driver or other implement which engages the notch therein. The part I has a circular portion, which is represented by the circle t in Fig. 5, and which Is concentric with its threaded openmg, into which the projection It extends. This portion 1'. is in fact the hearing or pivot about which the arm of the shuttle-carrier oscillates, the part F of said arm being held in place on said bearing by a radial flange t".

It is the aim of the manufacturer to always have the axis of movement of the arm F precisely in the vertical plane of the axis of the shaft B; but notwithstanding the care taken to this end inaccuracies sometimes occur; but when they occur they may, be compensated for by the use of the present invention. It will be observed that in assembling the parts the plug H, the location of which with respect to the shaft B is rea.

sonably accurate, can be turned so as to bring the center of the eccentric 7t precisely in the vertical plane of the axis of the shaft B, and thus any inaccuracies in workmanship may be compensated for.

By reason of the above-described arrangement of the shaft B and the means for transmitting movement from it to the-shuttle-carrier arm considerable lateral strain falls upon the bearing of said arm. In order to counteract the effect of this, the arm is provided with an extension or heel F, which projects a considerable distance from its axis of movement, and the under side of the base-plate A is provided With a bearing for said extension. By this means lateral strains upon the bearing of the arm are largely prevented and an increased wearing-surface is provided.

For the purpose of alining the axis of the gimbal-ring with the axis of the shaft so that they occupy a common horizontal plane the arms E are provided at their lower extremities with what may be called reflexec branches E, and between the main and reflexed branches the metal is reduced. more or less, as shown at e, in order to provide a sufiicient amount of elasticity at these points. The main branches are provided with threaded perforations occupied by screws J, the ends of which engage the refiexed branches E, so that by tightening the screws a tendency to spread the two branches apart results. The errors or inaccuracies which this feature of adjustment is provided to cure are always slight, so that even though the arms E be made reasonably stout there will be found to be sufficient give or yield to enable the proper centering of the axis of the gimbal-ring with respect to the axis of the shaft B.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isp 1. In a sewing-machine the combination of the lower shaft, the shuttle-carrier arm, and means for transmitting movement from the shaft to the arm, of a bearing upon which said arm is mounted to oscillate, and means for adjusting the bearing laterally with respect to the shaft, substantially as described.

2. In a sewing-machine the combination with the lower shaft, the shuttle-carrier arm and means for transmitting movement from the shaft to the arm, of a bearin upon which 6 projection, said plug being capable of rotary adjustment, and a bearing carried by the eccentric projection and supporting the shuttle-carrier arm, substantially as described.

4. In a sewing-machine the combination with the lower shaft, the shuttle-carrier arm and means for transmitting movement from the shaft to the arm, of a tapering plug occupying an opening in the base-plate and having a threaded eccentric projection and a bearing for the shuttle-carrier arm supported by said projection, substantially as described.

5. In a sewingmachine' the combination with the base-plate having a tapering opening therethrough, the lower shaft located below the base-plate and in line with said opening, the shuttle-carrier arm and means for transmitting movement from the shaft to the arm, of a tapering plug occupying the opening in the base-plate and adapted to be rotated therein, said plug having an eccentric projection, and a bearing supported by said plug and in turn supportingthe shuttle-carrier arm, substantially as described.

6. In a sewing-machine the combination of the lower shaft, the shuttle-carrier arm, a bearing upon which the arm is mounted to oscillate, means for adjusting the bearing laterally with respect to the vertical plane of the shaft, means, including a gimbal-ring surrounding the shaft, for transmitting movement from the shaft to the arm, said gimbalring having trunnions and means for adjusting the trunnions with respect to the horizontal plane of the axis of the shaft substantially as described.

7. In a sewing-machine, the combination with the lower shaft and a shuttle-carrier arm, of a pair of arms extending from the shuttle-carrier arm and straddling the shaft, said arms having reflexed branches, a gimbal-ring surrounding the shaft, for transmitting movement from the shaft to the arm, said gimbal-ring having trunnions supported by said reflexed branches, and setscrews for producing strains upon said refiexed branches, substantially as described.

WILLIAM (1 FREE.

I/Vitnesses:

L. M. HOPKINS, E. BENNETTE.

IIO 

